Fire damage bill nearly $1m

The damage bill from the devastating Albany bushfires last month is estimated to reach close to $1 million.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has completed its assessment of the damage to infrastructure from the bushfires which began from escaped private burns in Napier and Redmond.

DFES Great Southern acting Superintendent Brett Finlay said damage estimates sat at about $900,000 after one house, two sheds and livestock were lost, as well as Western Power infrastructure and farm fencing.

Agnes and Dave Hurle and their two children lost their home in Napier, while the Peaceful Bay fire damaged Nutkin Lodge in Peaceful Bay.

“However it’s a testament to the outstanding work of emergency services personnel that lives were not lost and property damage was not more extensive,” Mr Finlay said.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions is still working with the City of Albany to fully assess the damage from the blazes which began from prescribed burns in the Torndirrup and Stirling Range national parks.

Mr Finlay said a review by the Office of Bushfire Risk Management into the preconditions leading up to the storm event on Thursday, May 24, and subsequent fires would begin soon and would take up to seven weeks to complete.